Modification of the Sub-aerial Stem - Practice Questions & MCQ

Modification of the Sub-aerial Stem

• Sub-aerial stems are weak. 
• They run prostate on the ground.
• The plants with horizontal sub-aerial stems are called creepers.

Runner:

• It is typically a creeping stem with long internodes. 
• Its nodes bear axillary buds, scaly leaves and adventitious roots.
• Each runner arises from an axillary bud on the mother plant.
• A mother plant can produce a number of runners in different directions.
• Runners serve for vegetative propagation as they can break and develop into a new plant.
• For example, cyanadon (grass), strawberry and oxalis.

Sucker:

• It arises from the underground part of the main plant stem.
• It grows under the soil horizontally and then emerges out upwards.
• It develops leafy shoots and adventitious roots before detaching from the main plant.
• For example, mint, chrysanthemum, etc.

Stolon:

• It is a weak lateral branch that arises from the base of the main stem.
• It grows aerially for sometime and then bends downwards.
• Its terminal bud gives rise to new shoot and adventitious roots.
• For example, jasmine, colocasia, vallisneria, etc.

Offset:

• It is a short runner seen in aquatic plants.
• It grows horizontally from the axil of the leaf.
• It is one internode long.
• It bears a rosette of leaves above and adventitious roots below.
• For example, Pistia and Eichhornia.